- Date
- May 16, 1998, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Marlborough, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N42770Cessna 182L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980516035449A
- Case key
- 28307
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare. A related factor was the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot made an approach to a runway which was 1,682 feet long, with the winds from 080 degrees at 9 knots. He said that he was a 'little high' on short final and the airplane 'dropped faster' than he wanted it to. The airplane touched down hard and the pilot aborted the landing and landed at another airport uneventfully. After landing, the pilot took the airplane to a Fix Base Operator on the airport for repairs. The pilot stated that no one was notified of the accident because the extent of the damage was unknown. The repair work was pointed out to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who was performing routine surveillance. The Inspector determined that the firewall needed replacement, in addition to numerous other wrinkles found on the fuselage.
Factual narrative
On May 16, 1998, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42770, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Marlborough Airport (9B1), Marlborough, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot/owner and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at the Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine, about 1230, and terminated at Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts, at 1330.
The pilot made an approach to Runway 14 at 9B1, which was 1,682 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot stated that on final approach into 9B1 he had a short runway and a crosswind to contend with. He said that with flaps full down, and airspeed between 70 and 80 mph, he was a "little high" on short final. He reported that he was also "startled" by a chain link fence butted up against the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane "dropped faster" than he wanted. When it struck the runway, he initiated a go around and decided not to make another attempt at a landing at 9B1. He then proceeded to FIT where he made an uneventful landing.
After landing at FIT, the pilot took the airplane to a Fix Base Operator on the airport for repairs. The pilot stated that no one was notified of the accident because the extent of the damage was unknown. On June 8, 1998, the repair work was pointed out to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who was at FIT performing routine surveillance. The Inspector determined that the firewall replacement, in addition to numerous other wrinkles found on the fuselage, was substantial damage, and initiated the notification for the accident.
A mechanic on duty at FIT, on the day of the accident, stated that the weather conditions were "moderately windy and gusty."
At 1252, winds were reported at FIT, which was 17 miles from 9B1, from 080 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42770
- Reported as
- Cessna 182L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18259184
- Airframe hours
- 1,955
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kenneth E. Barthelette
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 1998 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- PWM · Portland, ME
- Destination
- 9B1
- Airport
- 9B1 · Marlborough Airport, runway 14, 1,682 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,165 total · 800 in this make and model · 1,165 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FIT, 17 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.